US 11,787,104 B2
Methods for fiber reinforced additive manufacturing
Gregory Thomas Mark, Cambridge, MA (US); David Steven Benhaim, Cambridge, MA (US); Abraham Lawrence Parangi, Lincoln, MA (US); and Benjamin Tsu Sklaroff, Somerville, MA (US)
Assigned to MARKFORGED, INC., Waltham, MA (US)
Filed by MARKFORGED, INC., Cambridge, MA (US)
Filed on Jun. 29, 2017, as Appl. No. 15/637,199.
Application 15/637,199 is a continuation of application No. 14/491,439, filed on Sep. 19, 2014, granted, now 9,694,544, issued on Jul. 4, 2017.
Application 14/491,439 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/333,881, filed on Jul. 17, 2014, granted, now 9,149,988, issued on Oct. 6, 2015.
Application 14/333,881 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/297,437, filed on Jun. 5, 2014, granted, now 9,370,896, issued on Jun. 21, 2016.
Application 14/297,437 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/222,318, filed on Mar. 21, 2014, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/907,431, filed on Nov. 22, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/902,256, filed on Nov. 10, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/883,440, filed on Sep. 27, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/881,946, filed on Sep. 24, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/880,129, filed on Sep. 19, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/878,029, filed on Sep. 15, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/847,113, filed on Jul. 17, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/831,600, filed on Jun. 5, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/815,531, filed on Apr. 24, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/804,235, filed on Mar. 22, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2018/0022032 A1, Jan. 25, 2018
Int. Cl. B29C 64/118 (2017.01); G05B 15/02 (2006.01); B29C 70/16 (2006.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); G06F 30/00 (2020.01); B29C 64/20 (2017.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B29C 64/386 (2017.01); B29C 64/393 (2017.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01); B29K 63/00 (2006.01); B29K 71/00 (2006.01); B29K 77/00 (2006.01); B29K 79/00 (2006.01); B29K 25/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 64/118 (2017.08) [B29C 64/20 (2017.08); B29C 64/386 (2017.08); B29C 64/393 (2017.08); B29C 70/16 (2013.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); G05B 15/02 (2013.01); G06F 30/00 (2020.01); B29K 2025/08 (2013.01); B29K 2063/00 (2013.01); B29K 2071/00 (2013.01); B29K 2077/00 (2013.01); B29K 2079/085 (2013.01); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A 3D printer for additive manufacturing a 3D printed part including a plurality of layers, the 3D printer comprising:
at least one printer head configured to be coupled to a supply of isotropic fill material and a fiber supply including a fiber tow;
a build platen configured to support the 3D printed part;
a motorized drive configured to move at least one of the at least one printer head and the build platen; and
a controller having an instruction file for controlling the 3D printer configured to operate the motorized drive and the at least one printer head to build the 3D printed part by:
laying only the isotropic fill material along a first toolpath that defines a perimeter of a first layer of the plurality of layers of the 3D printed part;
laying, separate from the laying of the isotropic fill material, the fiber tow along a second toolpath positioned closer to a centroid of the 3D printed part than the isotropic fill material along the first toolpath that defines the perimeter of the first layer of the 3D printed part; and
orienting an anisotropic characteristic of the fiber tow to follow a trajectory of the second tool path such that the first layer of the 3D printed part exhibits the anisotropic characteristic in a specific direction corresponding to the trajectory of the second toolpath,
wherein the trajectory of the second toolpath provides part strength in the specific direction and increases a strength-to-weight ratio of the 3D printed part.